Ethereum News Today: CryptoPunks Acquisition Drives 15.9% Floor Price Surge, NFT Market Cap Jumps 21.2%

A new wallet purchased 45 CryptoPunks for $7.79 million, driving a 15.9% rise in the collection’s floor price. This significant acquisition was part of a broader surge in the NFT market, which saw a 21.2% increase in market capitalization to $6.34 billion. Daily sales volume jumped 303% to $38.7 million, indicating a renewed interest in the NFT space.

The purchase of 45 CryptoPunks for 2,082 ETH, valued at $7.79 million, was confirmed by a post on X. This acquisition was part of a broader “sweep” that impacted several leading NFT collections. The CryptoPunks collection, the largest by market capitalization, saw its floor price rise by 16.5%, jumping from 40.9 ETH to 47.75 ETH, equivalent to more than $179,000. During the same day, 83 CryptoPunks NFTs were acquired by new holders.

Other notable collections also experienced significant price increases. Pudgy Penguins, the second-largest collection by market cap, saw a 15% price increase to 16.6 ETH, or roughly $62,597. The collection saw a major influx of demand as 100 new holders entered the market. Infinex Patrons, a governance NFT tied to the Infinex protocol, posted a 9.4% price increase to 1.4 ETH, worth around $5,241, and remains the third-largest collection by market size. You The Real MVP, a membership NFT in the Memeland ecosystem, recorded the most significant daily gain, rising 1,280% in price, marking the sharpest single-day performance among top-tier NFTs.

The total NFT market cap jumped 1.04% in the last 24 hours, with the current valuation standing at $1.66 billion. Total NFT sales volume surged 605.63% on the day, reaching $6.8 million. These metrics show a sharp contrast with earlier 2025 trends, where NFT volumes had dropped 61% in Q1 to $1.5 billion. Last year was also marked by poor market performance, recording the lowest trading volume since 2020.

Community activity and past forecasts also played a role in the market surge. Digital artist Beeple posted a new artwork titled “Big Sweep” in reference to the activity. Other NFT-focused users on X also referenced the comeback, noting that buyers are returning and updating their profiles to reflect renewed activity. Blockworks co-founder Jason Yanowitz commented that the movement appears to follow emerging NFT treasury activity. Investor Tyler Warner added that many collectors from 2021 remain active and continue to engage with NFT drops.

Earlier in May, analysts pointed to signs of a rebound. CryptoSlam’s Yehudah Petscher said the market was setting up for a return. DappRadar’s Sara Gherghelas noted that real-world assets could serve as future growth drivers. On July 9, rapper Snoop Dogg sold nearly 1,000 NFTs in 30 minutes through Telegram, contributing to growing market momentum.